60th Edition

📍 This Week’s Lineup:

💦 Water Innovation in Chicago

📊 Chart of the Week

📆 Events Around the City

🔙 Previous Editions of the Driver’s Seat

💦 Water Innovation in Chicago

Chicago's long-standing legacy of water innovation, combined with our direct access to Lake Michigan, has positioned us as a leader in sustainable water management.

Let’s take a look at how we got here:

Chicago’s Water History

• Arguably the most significant “water move” in the city was the reversal of the Chicago River in the early 1900s to protect its drinking water supply.

• In 1917, the Chicago Office of Water Resources was established to oversee flood control, water diversion, dam safety, and public water protection.

• By the mid-20th century, Chicago had developed an extensive system of intercepting sewers and sewage treatment plants, significantly reducing flooding and improving water quality in the city's waterways.

Advanced Water Purification Systems

• Chicago's new water purification plants feature transparent pipes and advanced filtration systems, ensuring the highest quality of clean water for its residents.

• These plants utilize cutting-edge technology to reduce energy consumption, making the purification process more sustainable and cost-effective.

• Integrated systems continuously monitor water quality and operational efficiency, allowing for immediate adjustments to maintain optimal performance.

Current (no pun intended) Innovation

• Founded in 2016, Current is a water innovation hub advancing water management and sustainability through initiatives like Great Lakes ReNew.

• Great Lakes ReNew is supported by up to $160 million over 10 years from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

• This initiative leverages partnerships across six states to drive water innovation and STEM education.

📊 Chart of the Week

Chicago ranks as the second-best US metro for manufacturing, with the largest inventory (226.4 million sq ft) and the second-largest workforce (287,000 jobs).

Supply chain shifts and government initiatives are benefiting Chicago. Despite a 23% leasing decrease, nearly 7 million sq ft were leased in Q1, with 83% of leases for spaces under 75,000 sq ft.

🗺️ Events Around The City

Monday Morning Run Club

• Hosted by DripCo

• Monday

• RSVP

AAPI Founded in Chicago - Happy Hour

• Hosted by AAPI

• Wednesday

• RSVP

NEW VENTURE CHALLENGE (NVC) FINALS

• Hosted by UChicago

• Thursday

• RSVP

CHAT Collective Q2 "Thoughtluck" BBQ

• Thursday

• RSVP

Consumer Chi Coffee Club with Knack PR & Manufactured

• Thursday

• RSVP

GenAI Workshop

• Hosted by Microsoft and DataStax

• Thursday

• RSVP

Chicago EdTech Happy Hour

• Thursday

• RSVP

🗞 Latest Editions:

#59 - The Story of Tempus

#58 - Chicago’s $20B Quantum Campus

#57 - Rivian Ignites Chicago

#56 - Chicago's Downtown Resurgence

👋 See you next week!

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